268 EDIBLE MUSHROOMS 



length peppered with gray, both conditions being in- 

 dicated in accompanying cut, and ultimately black 

 or brown, after which the outer case becomes dry 

 and papery, and soon bursts at the summit, liberat- 

 ing its clouds of spores with the slight- 

 spore-cloud est zephyr, or, later, becoming dislodged 

 dissemination from its slender anchorage to the soil, 

 is whisked before the breeze envelop- 

 ed in its spore-smokej Fries, the eminent fungol- 

 ogist, has reckoned the number of these spores in a 

 single Puff-ball at ten millions — presumably a con- 

 servative estimate. 



But it will surprise most people to know that the 

 plebeian Puff-ball of our pastures is good for some- 

 thing besides the kick of the small boy. 



There are a number of species of the Puff-ball, 

 and none of them is known to be poisonous. 



I have indicated an arbitrary group in Plate 34 

 ranging in shape and size from the small white 

 globular variety of an inch in diameter, L. saccaium, 

 and the pear-shaped L. gemmatum, to the giant past- 

 ure species, which may frequently at- 

 Varions tain the dimensions of a foot-ball or 

 species a bushel basket. In its larger dimen- 

 sions it is more spreading in shape, 

 being somewhat wider than high. All the Puff-balls 

 are edible if gathered at the white stage — Le., white 

 pulp; those of yellow or darker fracture being ex- 

 cluded, as the fungus in this later stage is not con- 

 sidered fit for food. 



Of the esculent qualities of the larger species, Lyco- 

 perdon giganteum, we may judge from the statement 



